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At the scene, they found a man in his 20s who had been shot outside Entrance 3, Det. Sajeev Nair told media at Yorkdale mall Thursday morning.ÌýÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ paramedics came to the scene but did not transport anyone to hospital.

Police said the victim was pronounced dead just before 6:55 a.m.Ìý

“It is not a random shooting,” Nair said, confirming that multiple shots were fired.

The Homicide Unit is investigating but no suspect information has been shared, with Nair notingÌýthe investigation is still in its early stages.Ìý

“We understand that an incident like this, particularly in a public location like a mall, can be deeply unsettling,” Nair said, urging anyone in the area at the time with dashcam or cellphone footage to contact investigators.Ìý

People should expect to see an increased police presence in the area as police continue their investigation, he added. The mall is safe and open to the public, Nair said,Ìýthough shoppers are being asked to avoid Entrance 3.

At the scene Thursday morning, an orange tarp was seen covering what appeared to be a body outside the Indigo near Entrance 3 of the mall, with tape blocking the entrance to that store, as well asÌýCrate & Barrel and Banana Republic. Police cordoned off a large section of the parking lot between the A2 North Centre and A3 North East lots. Several police cruisers were parked at the scene as officers investigated. A forensic vehicle was also present.

Some onlookers watched the scene from behind the police tape before the mall opened and shoppers started trickling into Yorkdale as more carsÌýpulledÌýinto the parking lot.Ìý

Christine Umipig, a Yorkdale store employee, parked her car in front of Banana Republic just before 6:30 a.m. when she saw two ambulances and a number of police cruisers parked outside the business.ÌýAt the time, there was only police tape blocking off the area between SportChek and Indigo, but she saw several officers crowding something on the ground.

Umipig stopped to take a photo but in a rush to get to work, she didn’t ask anyone what happened. She only learned that the incident was a shooting through the news.

“It’s scary,” Umipig said, adding that she’s concerned that another shooting happened near the mall.ÌýEarly last month, a man died and five other people were injured in a shooting in the Lawrence Heights neighbourhood, just south of Yorkdale mall.Ìý

Police told Umipig she couldn’t access her vehicle as it was parked too close to the scene and said the area would be blocked off for the next 24 hours.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of the individual who lost their life today. Violence, especially gun violence, has no place in our city,” a Yorkdale spokesperson said in an email to the Star.

The mall has 24/7 security and surveillance, the spokesperson said. Police confirmed that they are working with Yorkdale Security.

“The safety of our guests and employees is our highest priority and we worked immediately to ensure there were no further threats to public safety,” said the Yorkdale spokesperson, adding that the shooting occurred outside of the mall’s operating hours.